AusNet Services sponsors EnergyLab’s Women in Clean Energy Fellowship to support women entrepreneurship in Melbourne

PRESS RELEASE

AusNet Services is supporting EnergyLab’s Women in Clean Energy Fellowship in Melbourne to inspire, educate and support more women to establish energy startups. The program, piloted successfully in Melbourne between August and November 2019, will see its second intake starting in 2020 thanks to AusNet Services’ support.

The program aims to create a defined pathway for women entrepreneurs to start clean energy startups by giving them the skills and knowledge they need to embark on a career in entrepreneurship. In addition to sponsoring the program, AusNet Services will deliver an energy industry workshop to the fellowship participants.

“It is exciting that EnergyLab is supporting Women in the Energy sector. EnergyLab’s networks, combined with our industry expertise, will provide valuable insights for women trying to enter the rapidly growing clean energy industry. AusNet Services is delighted to support EnergyLab and their Women in Clean Energy Fellowship programme. As an organisation with a strong focus on delivering the transition to clean energy sources this is a wonderful opportunity to develop the skills and capabilities we need now and into the future” Says Geraldine Leslie, Executive General Manager, People, Safety and Corporate Affairs at AusNet Services.

“EnergyLab is committed to promoting gender equality in the clean energy sector and without support from our partners like AusNet Services programs like these wouldn’t be possible.” Says James Tilbury, CEO of EnergyLab

Between 8 and 12 talented women with an interest in entrepreneurship will be selected to benefit from inspirational group mentoring, educational discussions and workshops on startup fundamentals. Throughout the program, fellowship participants will learn a range of skills from how to hatch an idea and find co-founders to how to pitch their startup as well as legal and accounting fundamentals.

“Our first program was incredibly successful. The eleven fellows selected have been really engaged and a true cohort effect has taken place. As the program manager, I have undoubtedly seen them become more confident. The workshops gave them a comprehensive overview of the practical steps they need to take to start their entrepreneurial journey and the mentor nights have been critical to introduce them to role models they can identify with. We are glad to say that four participants have partnered in teams of two to create their own startup. That is four women out of eleven starting their entrepreneurial journey as well as two new clean energy startups born as a result of the program which is a fantastic outcome. ” Says Milly Young, EnergyLab Programs Manager.

The free series of nine evening events, will run over three months between March and May 2020 and will aim to:

-Increase the founders’ knowledge of the energy sector and up-skill in business fundamentals to prepare them for a successful startup journey

-Introduce them to successful women entrepreneurs who can share their journey

-Weave a solid support network by providing a peer group of like-minded women entrepreneurs being at the same stage of their journey.

The fellowship is designed to feed directly into EnergyLab Pre-Acceleration Program and Acceleration Program, to support the entrepreneurs from the idea stage to running an early-stage startup.

The Women in Clean Energy Fellowship runs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

To enter the program, prospective entrepreneurs simply need to submit an application on EnergyLab’s website before Tuesday 21 January 2020